Whittley Marine Group has formalised a national Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Dealership partnership with Honda Marine, the marine division of Honda Motor Company. The new partnership spans Whittley’s manufacturing, retail, service, and repower divisions across Australia and coincides with Honda’s release of updated 150HP and V6 250HP outboard engine models for the Australian market.
The agreement was signed at Whittley Marine Group’s Melbourne manufacturing headquarters by Honda Motor Co. Vice President Toshio Kuwahara and Honda Australia MPE President Yoshitaka Okamoto, alongside Whittley Marine Group Managing Director Neville Whittley and Director of Sales & Marketing Alan Whittley.
The partnership marks a significant development for both companies. Honda Marine is increasing investment in advanced four-stroke outboard technologies, while Whittley continues to expand its national retail and service footprint. For consumers, the collaboration delivers new opportunities to purchase Honda-powered Whittley boat packages, access authorised service support, and explore repower solutions across the Whittley Boating Centre network.
Key technologies featured in Honda Marine’s outboard range include:
- BLAST™ (Boosted Low Speed Torque): Optimises air-fuel mixture and ignition timing to deliver rapid acceleration, particularly when transitioning onto the plane.
- VTEC™ (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control): Enhances engine performance at high RPM while maintaining fuel efficiency at cruising speeds.
- ECOmo™ (Lean Burn Control): Automatically adjusts fuel delivery for optimal efficiency, indicated via a green highlight on the engine gauge.
- 7-Year Domestic Warranty: Industry-leading warranty support for peace of mind and long-term reliability.
Under the new arrangement, all Honda-powered Whittley boat packages are performance-tested at the factory to ensure ideal engine mounting and propeller selection. In addition, the partnership enables the Whittley Service Division to offer nationwide servicing of Honda outboards and introduces a new Repower Division dedicated to retrofitting Honda engines onto existing vessels.
Looking ahead, Whittley and Honda Marine plan to launch integrated single-engine bow thruster steering systems by the end of the year—enhancing manoeuvrability and ease of use for family boating.
The announcement comes amid significant investment by Whittley Marine Group. The company is preparing to launch Australia’s largest and most advanced trailerable fibreglass boat later this year and recently introduced the AL Series—an Australian-made range of affordable pressed alloy boats. These initiatives reinforce Whittley’s commitment to offering diverse boating solutions across the market.
The Honda partnership will also support an expanded presence across Whittley’s factory-owned dealership network, including:
- Whittley Boating Centre Sydney: Located in Rozelle Bay, Sydney Harbour.
- Whittley Boating Centre Newcastle: A comprehensive service and sales centre in Newcastle.
- Whittley Boating Centre Melbourne: Co-located with the manufacturing facility.
- Whittley Boating Centre Perth: Home to WA’s largest display of new fibreglass boats.
- Whittley Boating Centre Gold Coast: Based at The Boat Works, Queensland’s marine precinct.
Over the next six months, more than 80 new Honda engines will be delivered to Whittley dealerships across the country, dramatically increasing visibility and accessibility for customers.
The collaboration between Whittley Marine Group and Honda Marine signals a new era of integration between high-quality Australian-built boats and globally respected marine engine technology. It also sets a new benchmark in customer experience and product support for Australian boaters.
For further information, visit www.whittleymarinegroup.com.au
